Surviving member of alleged bank robbery team charged

Updated 10:00 pm, Monday, September 14, 2009

The surviving member of an alleged bank robbery team has been charged in four Seattle-area robberies.

In court documents, prosecutors assert that James Robert Bartlow and his alleged partner in crime, Jason W. Williams, robbed a Shoreline bank Sept. 10, minutes before a King County sheriff's deputy shot and killed Williams, 32, outside a nearby casino. Now, in charging documents, investigators claim Bartlow had targeted the same bank -- an Alaska USA Credit Union inside the Safeway at at 15332 Aurora Ave. N. -- twice before as part of a month-long string of robberies.

Bartlow allegedly attempted to hit the same bank a second time on Aug. 31, but was unable to complete the robbery as the tellers recognized him from the earlier incident and refused to come to the counter.

One hour after that attempt, Bartlow robbed an Alaska USA Credit Union located in Kirkland. Video of that robbery, shows Bartlow demanding money without displaying a weapon.

The deadly fifth robbery attempt followed 10 days later. In court documents, detectives assert that Bartlow and Willaims fled the area in a rented pickup truck. A witness followed them to the Club Hollywood Casino about 14 blocks north.

A deputy shot Williams to death in the alleged getaway car, and Bartlow was arrested after receiving a shock from a Taser stun gun. Questioned by detectives, prosecutors claim Bartlow admitted to the four robberies and single robbery attempt.

Bartlow has been charged with four counts of first-degree robbery. The 47-year-old Everett man remains jailed.